New total synthesis of the marine antitumor alkaloid (-)-agelastatin A

reaction: see text] A new total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A (1) has been achieved from the chiral oxazolidinone (-)-3. Although enone transposition was problematic when the Michael ring closure of 2 was attempted with strong base, the desired cyclization could be effected with Hunig's base after the pyrrole nucleus was brominated. Subsequent reduction and monobromination afforded synthetic (-)-agelastatin A (1).